Capturing the Art of Nature
Buntzen Lake
The lake is always a nice little scenic spot, easy to get to and not difficult to hike, so it makes a great location for a short day hike where one has an opportunity to dig out a few new scenic nuggets.
Category
Serendipitous Discoveries
2011
Click on image to view gallery
I enjoy Buntzen Lake, it has ample parking – at least if you are early – has a variety of subject types and a range of hiking opportunities, all in an easy driving distance. So you could almost say it is an ideal location, perhaps that’s why it is so popular. Today I needed a short day trip as I had an evening anniversary party to get to and I also wanted to do a practice hike to prepare for my first peak in 2 weeks. So Buntzen Lake and the lower lake trail around it were a good choice for the day. Previously we always hiked the lake in a clock-wise direction, this always left us worn out by the time we did the return along the eastern side; so for a change we decided to hike the trail in reverse and explore the eastern shore first.
Our day began with an easy drive to the parking lot where we were able to get a spot quite close to the beach area. Here we prepped our packs and set off for the start of the trail. The lot was quite empty when we arrived but there was a constant stream of new arrivals that seemed to keep going all day! Once on the trail the cares and noises of the crowds were gone and the only reminder that we were in a busy park was the constant stream of other hikers or joggers passing us as we slowly made our way up the trail.
Our first stop was at a marked viewpoint overlooking the lake. Well it was probably a decent viewpoint at one point but now it is heavily overgrown by trees and the only view is a narrow look back at the main beach area. I think they should take down the signs or do some tree trimming. This does seem to be the fate of most viewpoints I come across. Continuing north we stopped at a few points for a variety of scenes ranging from back-lit trees to small ferns growing along the side of the trail; all the while we were dodging the onslaught of joggers and dogs making their way back to the parking area.
Soon we had reached the north beach where we stopped for a snack and rest, I gathered a few shots of the lake and then we were off across the suspension bridge as we started the return trip along the western shore. The trail was quite nicely improved in all the areas that were muddy or eroded – very nice but it does make it less of a back-country experience. The return trip offered some nice views along the way but most were partially obscured by trees, one could leave the trail for better access but today was not the day for me to go wandering, so we made do with the limited exposures the actual trail offered. The floating bridge across the southern end of the lake was upgraded a few years back making the crossing much better but in building it they cleaned out all the old logs and other scenic material, so it is now quite sterile and we didn’t have much to see while on it.
The final section from the bridge to the parking area was through tall growths of salmon berries which were nicely ripened and offered a few enjoyable treats as we made our way back the final distance. The parking lot was now almost full with people stopped waiting for cars to exit. Even though the far end of the lot had many open spots it seems people were waiting for closer spots. One truck stopped for our spot when we first arrived but I let them know we would be awhile so they reluctantly moved on. I don’t know why a few hundred feet saving is so important to them! As our time moved quickly on the trail we hadn’t eaten lunch yet so once rested a bit we ate our lunch in the truck before heading back home. It was a lovely hike but I do think I need to revisit some of the spots and wander off the trail for better viewing angles. Always more can be gleaned from any location, so Buntzen will see me again before too long.